The thyroid gland, which is located at the bottom of the neck, works to secrete certain hormones, which help control the metabolism process in addition to other important things in the human body.
Goiter is a health condition that affects the thyroid gland, which results in swelling in this gland, and the infection of the thyroid gland may not affect the work of the gland, but it may continue to secrete its own hormones,
The enlargement of the thyroid gland results in swelling in the neck area because it is located in front of the trachea, and is responsible for the production and secretion of hormones that regulate growth and metabolic processes.
The degree of goiter and the severity of symptoms depend on each individual in itself. In some cases, the enlargement is small, and in other cases it is so large that there is an actual narrowing of the trachea, which would cause breathing problems in the patient.
Usually in most cases, the goiter is simple and is not associated with inflammation, severe symptoms, or any effect on the function of the gland, and there is no clear cause for infection, but in some rare cases, the goiter is caused by cancer.
Causes of goiter
There are a number of different reasons that can cause goiter, and they are as follows:
1. Iodine deficiency
Perhaps the main reason is a lack of iodine, as the diet followed by a person contributes to eating the right amount of iodine or not, and unfortunately in some countries iodine is not added to salt, which exacerbates the problem of iodine deficiency.
The thyroid gland needs iodine in order to produce hormones that regulate the rate of metabolic processes in the body.
2. Autoimmune diseases
Another cause of goiter is autoimmune diseases.
3. The presence of other diseases
On the other hand, infection with some other diseases, such as:
Hypothyroidism: This causes the gland to enlarge, as the gland produces hormones in small quantities, and it is stimulated due to the insufficiency of the thyroid gland to produce a larger amount, which causes its enlargement.
Hashimoto's thyroiditis: A human condition caused by the immune system activating itself without a known cause, causing inflammation in the thyroid gland.
Hyperthyroidism: Another cause of enlargement of the thyroid gland, which causes the production of large amounts of thyroid hormone.
4. Other reasons
Other, less common causes of goiter are:
Nodules.
smoking.
hormonal changes;
Thyroiditis.
lithium medication.
Radiation therapy, especially in the neck area.
Women over the age of 40 are at a higher risk of infection.
Signs and symptoms of goiter
Symptoms usually vary depending on the cause, and they are as follows:
1. General symptoms of goiter
Most cases of goiter do not produce any symptoms except for enlargement in the area, but the following symptoms are common if they appear:
* Disorders in the throat, such as: stenosis, cough, and hoarseness.
* Problems swallowing.
Difficulty breathing in severe cases.
2. Symptoms caused by hyperthyroidism
If hyperthyroidism is the cause, symptoms such as:
* Nervousness.
*Heart palpitations.
* Increased sweating.
*Tired.
* Increased appetite.
*Weight loss.
3. Symptoms caused by hypothyroidism
If hypothyroidism is the cause of an enlarged thyroid gland, symptoms such as:
* Constipation.
*Forgetting.
* Hair loss.
*Weight loss.
Goiter treatment:
Most cases of goiter can be prevented by taking the recommended daily intake of iodine, so make sure you take it.
As for the treatment of goiter, it consists in knowing the cause of it, and if there is no cause for it, it is usually treated on its own. If the enlargement is small and the gland is functioning normally, there is no need to receive any treatment.
Therefore, you should consult your doctor when you have an enlarged thyroid gland, to see if there is a cause for it or not, and to receive the appropriate treatment.
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